Sometimes it would be nice if life could be more like the movies. Screen love stories are almost always presented with all the loose ends neatly tied up in a fairy-tale "happily ever after" ending. Off screen, real people have messy affairs that don't often end well or they make mistakes and let Mr. or Ms. Right get away.

"Some Fish Can Fly" is a surprisingly charming little indie based on events that occurred in the life of its writer-director Robert Kane Pappas. Modest in scale but ambitious in scope, the film tells two stories concurrently, even though they happened at different times. The core story is a love affair between an American man and an Irish au pair. The subplot centers on the American's attempt to make a film based on that relationship. That Pappas manages to strike the right balance and maintain the audience's interest in both stories is no small feat.

Over a black screen, the narrator recounts the story of Antony and Cleopatra; how during a sea battle, when Antony was on the verge of defeating Caesar, Cleopatra took her boat and retreated, which caused the love-struck Antony to abandon his plans to conquer the world and instead go after the woman he loved. Similarly, the narrator flew to Ireland to chase his fiancŽe.

Flashing back ten years, the film recounts the lovers' first meeting on a blind date. Neither was that excited about being fixed up with the other, and for most of the evening Kevin (played by Kevin Causey) ignored Nora (Nancy St. Alban). But the spark between them flared before the evening ended. Being a good girl, Nora wouldn't sleep with Kevin, although they kissed for seven hours, beginning a passionate, mismatched relationship. Nora was determined to return to Ireland and Kevin was just as determined to persuade her to remain in the USA. The more they try to end their affair, the deeper their love grows, to the point that Kevin proposes marriage.

The film then jumps to the more recent past as Kevin struggles to make sense of his ties to Nora by channeling his feelings into a movie. With his friends, he sets about raising the money to produce the film from wealthy individuals. He becomes enmeshed in all sorts of politics and problems, from one of his producer's penchant for seducing his partners to the difficulties in casting the film. At one point Kevin literally has to do somersaults to impress potential investors.

While Pappas mines this subplot for its humor, he doesn't lose sight of the romance at the heart of the film. He is abetted by the winning presence of his stars; St. Alban in particular is a find, although Causey is saddled with an obvious hairpiece for much of the film that can be slightly distracting.

Pappas has made a rare treat. Like life, "Some Fish Can Fly" doesn't go down the obvious highway. Instead it takes the less-traveled road that ends in a heartfelt and ultimately touching tale of love lost and found.

*No Rating

'Some Fish Can Fly'

Kevin Causey: Kevin

Nancy St. Alban: Nora

Rich Nagel: Z

Clarke Bittner: Lyle

Nina Howie: Madeline

John Rowe: Chris

Bridget Barkan: Siobhan

Dorothea Hanrahan: Linda

Garland Hunter: casting director

Kirby Mitchell: The Marine

An Artistic License presentation. Director Robert Kane Pappas. Writer Robert Kane Pappas. Producers Joseph A Zock and Miriam Foley. Cinematographer Jim Denny. Editor Brian Cole. Music Edward B. Kessel and Marc R. Hoffman. Running time 1 hour, 33 minutes.